The Indian section is on the tentative list of UNESCO's world heritage sites

UNESCO has added the Indian portion of Kailash Mansarovar to its tentative list of world heritage sites. This move was proposed by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) along with the Ministry of Environment and Forests to UNESCO in April. As per the proposal, the site was entered under the mixed category that includes both natural and cultural heritage.

What’s unique about Kailash Mansarovar?

A UNESCO appointed world heritage site is a landmark or an area that is legally protected by treaties to preserve the culture and the heritage of the place. The Kailash Mansarovar is of prominent cultural and religious significance to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. In Hinduism, it is believed that Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva and whoever takes a dip in Lake Mansarovar is forgiven of all his sins for 100 lifetimes. Mount Kailash is known as Mount Meru in Buddhist texts and is a major pilgrimage site for the community. In Jainism, it is the site next to which the first Thirthankara attained enlightenment.

Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar make up the Kailash Sacred Landscape covering an area of 31,000sqkm. 6,836sqkm of this landscape is found within India, while the remaining area is shared with the south-western portion of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and adjacent districts in the far-western region of Nepal. Both China and Nepal have proposed this landscape to the UNESCO as a world heritage site as well.

The addition of Lake Mansarovar and Lake Kailash will not only take the count of India’s world heritage site to 38 but this prestigious tag will also be greatly appreciated by the communities living along the yatra route in Uttarakhand as it would encourage sustainable tourism.